Jugoslavija
Finland - very quick review. Really nice place and really nice people...and as always I wonder what has gone wrong with the UK...why are we a nation of such aggressive arseholes...anyway was an entertaining couple of days. Wasn't overly expensive, there was some snow, the weather was pretty nice, and I saw inebriated people being carried out of bars after indulging in a couple too many shots. And that was just the first night.
Have been currently reading 'Death of Yugoslavia' a BBC-commissioned book. A pretty good book that analyses the causes of the break-up of Yugoslavia well, though I'm sure most people would probably find it utterly tedious. The book starts in 1987 with Milosevic's infamous speech to the Serbs of Kosovo Polje, how Slovenia broke away from the federation and why Bosnia was so completely knackered. It does have an obvious 'it was all the fault of the Serbs/the muslims were all innocent victims' slant and generally seeks to blame the Serbs exclusively (though what would you expect from the BBC?!).
This comes on top of a few more Balkan reads 'my war gone by, I miss it so' about a war journalists frank account (who also also had a heroine addiction in the UK - Anthony Loyd) of what exactly what was happening in Bosnia, 1993. And General Michael Rose's 'fighting for peace' gives a good account of what Brit peace-keepers are facing on a daily basis. Good old Stocky library. But I think I will need another trip to the Balkans to try and satisfy my ex-Yugoslavia cravings (which I thought were under control).
Sometimes I think I should have joined the army, as I'd be getting all this stuff for free (or even being paid for the privilege). Me and Taylor did not do Sarajevo justice in 2001. The Jan 2007 Bradt guide to Bosnia & Herzegovina has been purchased from Amazon, along with a couple more Balkan war books...and flights Manchester-Sarajevo can be acquired for a bargain 235pounds, so another trip is looking very tempting...
posted by anton @ 12:43 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
"and as always I wonder what has gone wrong with the UK...why are we a nation of such aggressive arseholes..."
I really would like to know whee you get this impression of Britain from? Is it the Daily Mail?
I can honestly say that in my 23 years I have rarely felt threatened in Britain on nights out or in my own neighbourhood.
I get the impression that you must have been mugged/attacked/shouted at on a regular basis the way you go on about it!
Amusingly you say how wonderful Finland is in comparison but go on to say that people were being carried out inebriated from bars...a sight you would probably pour scorn on in the UK.
Could you enlighten us as to why we in the UK are a nation of agressive arse-holes?
Cheers.
It is the 'other mans grass is always greener' complex. We are probably in some ways going to be more agressive because we have the highest prison rate is western europe but I don't think our middle class up bringing can really make a balanced gudgement. I include you in this group Anton 'Wanton' Slovich.
I can't stand the Daily Mail. I don't read any papers apart from the free Metro.
I'm not talking about muggings and attacks, just the more general low-level aggression etc.
When you go on a local bus/train there's always crap everywhere, people with feet on seats. Mindless vandalism etc. We're slowing adopting the values of the underclass. A slow breakdown of all respect for authority. These seem to be problems of the UK. It's probably happening everywhere, but seems to be happening most in the UK.
I often walk around and am actually very thankful that I am British and have this country to live in.
Yes it has its problems but to say it is in a worse state than many Eastern European countries would be incorrect IMO.
I have been to Lat/Lit/Est/Croatia/Bosnia and whiclt only there for brief stays can honestly say they have the same problems as Britain if not worse.
I think the theme of your post is wrong when you class it as aggressive behaviour.
"crap everywhere, people with feet on seats. Mindless vandalism etc." is not aggressive behaviour it is a lack of respect, which I believe is a different issue that needs addressing.
More powers to the people involved should be granted. For example a bus driver SHOULD be able to eject a vandal/litterer from a bus without the fear of being accused of assault of some such nonesense.
There should be heavy, on the spot fines for littering.
I have heard how you have been pushed out of the way when trying to board a bus/tram/train in far flung places and old ladys pushed over and ladys with prams denied the chance to get on a bus because others were so eager to get their own place? Is this not the same problem? I think so.
To add, if these places are so great, as you infer why are their populations flocking to Britain in their 000's? Maybe it is they coming here that is causing alot of the problem by showing a lack of respect for our cultures and ideas? I dont know? Something to think over...
I think there is a big difference between Scandinavia and Eastern Europe on the subject of general attitudes. Anton's main post is about Finland, and I'd agree Scandinavia is a cut above us, and most Western and Eastern European countries when it comes to attitudes. Yes there were drunk people being carried out of the bars in Finland, but there was no complaints or aggressive body language displayed towards the bar maid as she carried the youngster out. I can't recall seeing a bouncer over there on both of my two trips (which is surely an indication of a lack of trouble when drunk). I don't think the UK is really bad, but compared to Scandinavia you can notice a difference. Having said that, I do think the majority of Brits are well meaning people, and I'd agree with your sentiments about the amount of trouble I've directly received in my 25 years is very small.
Eastern Europe I agree is probably no better for general attitude to the UK (which is a negative comment as I don't consider Britain to be bad), and in some cases (Croatia stands out for me), the youngsters are even ruder.
OK OK, it was a silly thing to say and I wasn't seriously accusing all Brits of being idiots, and I've certainly never indicated that Eastern Europe is any better in this respect. People in Croatia can be 'rude' i.e. push in front of you to get on board first but they don't mean you any harm, while there does seem to be slightly more 'mindless aggression' in the UK i.e. there is a certain class of people (extremely small percentage of the population) that seem to delight in being deliberately vindictive towards others just for the hell of it.
I was merely trying to indicate that Scandinavia is a cut above the UK in their attitude towards others, and there seem to be fewer social problems.
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